7.3 Modernist Trends in North Africa and the Levant

Modernist art in North Africa and the Levant blended Western influences with local traditions. Artists like Ramses Younan in Egypt and Jewad Selim in Iraq explored surrealism, abstraction, and cultural identity in their work.

These movements challenged artistic norms and addressed political issues. From the Casablanca School in Morocco to Studio Beirut in Lebanon, artists created unique styles that celebrated their heritage while embracing modernist principles.

Modernist Art Movements in North Africa and the Levant

Surrealism in Egypt

Top images from around the web for Surrealism in Egypt

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Surrealism in Egypt

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  A History of Graphic Design: Chapter 4 - The Islamic Calligraphy View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Surrealism gained prominence in Egypt, with artists exploring dreamlike imagery and automatic writing techniques
• Key artists include Ramses Younan and Fouad Kamel
• Incorporated elements of ancient Egyptian art and Islamic calligraphy into their surrealist works
• Sought to tap into the subconscious mind and challenge conventional artistic norms

The Baghdad Modern Art Group

• Founded in 1951, the Baghdad Modern Art Group promoted abstraction and experimentation
• Members include Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan Al Said
• Explored themes of nationalism and cultural identity in their abstract works
• Played a significant role in the development of modern art in Iraq and the wider region

Studio Beirut in Lebanon

• The Studio Beirut collective, established in 1934, embraced modernist principles
• Artists like Mustafa Farroukh and Omar Onsi were part of this collective
• Drew inspiration from Mediterranean culture and landscape in their modernist works
• Contributed to the growth of the Lebanese art scene and the spread of modernist ideas

The Casablanca School in Morocco

• Active in the 1960s and 1970s, the Casablanca School combined local traditions with modernist aesthetics
• Key artists include Farid Belkahia and Mohamed Melehi
• Used abstract geometric patterns and symbols derived from Berber art in their works
• Sought to create a distinctly Moroccan modernist style that celebrated cultural heritage

Artistic Approaches: Comparisons and Contrasts

Regional Inspirations and Themes

• Egyptian modernists often incorporated elements of ancient Egyptian art and Islamic calligraphy
• Lebanese artists drew inspiration from Mediterranean culture and landscape
• Moroccan modernists frequently used abstract geometric patterns and symbols derived from Berber art
• Iraqi artists explored themes of nationalism and cultural identity in their works

Political and Social Engagement

• Artists in the Levant, such as Palestinians and Syrians, often addressed political and social issues in their work
  • Examples include critiquing colonialism, imperialism, and foreign intervention
  • Artworks served as a means of resistance and protest against oppressive regimes and social injustice
• North African modernists tended to focus more on formal experimentation and cultural heritage
  • Sought to create distinctly regional modernist styles that celebrated local traditions
  • Used art to explore questions of identity and belonging in the face of modernization

Formal Experimentation and Innovation

• Both North African and Levantine modernists engaged in formal experimentation and innovation
• Explored new techniques, materials, and styles to push the boundaries of traditional art forms
• Incorporated elements of abstraction, non-representational forms, and unconventional compositions
• Sought to create new visual languages that reflected the changing realities of their societies

Western Modernism's Influence

Exposure to European Modernist Movements

• Many artists from North Africa and the Levant studied or spent time in Europe
• Exposed to various modernist movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism
• Learned new techniques, styles, and philosophical approaches to art-making
• Brought these influences back to their home countries, where they adapted and reinterpreted them

Adaptation and Reinterpretation

• Artists adapted and reinterpreted Western modernist styles to suit their own cultural contexts and artistic visions
• Created unique hybrid forms that blended Western influences with local traditions and aesthetics
• Used modernist techniques to explore regional themes, histories, and identities
• Examples include incorporating Islamic calligraphy into abstract compositions or using Cubist fragmentation to depict local landscapes

Debates on Tradition and Modernity

• The influence of Western modernism led to debates about the role of tradition and cultural identity in the face of modernization and globalization
• Some artists embraced Western influences as a means of progress and innovation
• Others sought to preserve and celebrate local artistic traditions and cultural heritage
• Tensions between tradition and modernity played out in the works of many North African and Levantine modernists
• Artists grappled with questions of authenticity, identity, and the place of art in rapidly changing societies

Art and Social and Political Issues

Critiquing Colonialism and Imperialism

• Modernist artists in North Africa and the Levant often used their work to critique colonialism, imperialism, and foreign intervention in the region
• Depicted the struggles and resistance of colonized peoples against oppressive powers
• Used art as a means of asserting national identity and cultural pride in the face of foreign domination
• Examples include Algerian artists who used modernist techniques to depict the Algerian War of Independence or Lebanese artists who critiqued the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon

Addressing National Identity and Cultural Heritage

• Artists addressed issues of national identity, cultural heritage, and the struggle for independence in their paintings, sculptures, and installations
• Sought to define and celebrate distinct national and cultural identities in the post-colonial era
• Used art to explore the complexities and contradictions of constructing new national narratives
• Examples include Egyptian artists who incorporated Pharaonic motifs into their modernist works or Palestinian artists who used art to assert their cultural identity and right to self-determination

Art as Resistance and Advocacy

• Artworks served as a means of resistance and protest against oppressive regimes and social injustice
• Artists used their platforms to raise awareness about important political and social issues, such as women's rights, poverty, and urbanization
• Challenged dominant narratives and power structures through their art
• Examples include Palestinian artists like Ismail Shammout and Sliman Mansour, who depicted the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under occupation
• Modernist art played a role in shaping public discourse and imagining alternative futures for their societies